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PHF winter break news roundup

Everything that’s happened since the PHF began its winter break

A lot has happened since the PHF went on break in mid-December, from All-Star Showcase preparations, to trading cards, to postponements, to the players’ association announcements. Here’s a quick refresher before the PHF resumes the second half of the season this weekend.

All-Star coaches announced

Before the break, the PHF announced that Shiann Darkangelo of the Toronto Six, Jillian Dempsey of the Boston Pride, and Allie Thunstrom of the Minnesota Whitecaps would be serving as all-star team captains for the upcoming All-Star Showcase in January.

At the end of December, three honorary head coaches were announced. Meghan Chayka, Sami-Jo Small, and Melody Davidson are all set to get behind the bench, each with one of the three teams.

Guest coaches announced for PHF All-Star Showcase

Upper Deck

The PHF will be getting official trading cards in the 2023 season thanks to a multiyear deal with Upper Deck. The partnership will see physical and digital trading cards released beginning in the 2022–23 season in what Commissioner Tyler Tumminia called a milestone licensing agreement for the PHF.

Players’ Association gets a new Executive Director and reveals 2021–22 Reps

Ever since Anya Packer took the General Manager job with the Metropolitan Riveters this past summer, the Players’ Association has been without a director. On Dec. 30, ESPN’s Kristen Shilton first reported that Alex Sinatra would be stepping into the role.

In the days preceding Sinatra’s announcement, the Players’ Association announced a total of 12 player reps, two from each team.

Boston Pride: Kaleigh Fratkin, Mallory Souliotis

Buffalo Beauts: Dominique Kremer, Autumn MacDougall

Connecticut Whale: Kaycie Anderson, Rebecca Morse

Metropolitan Riveters: Theresa Knutson, Allie Olnowich

Minnesota Whitecaps: Maddie Rowe, Allie Thunstrom

Toronto Six: Shiann Darkangelo, Emma Woods

Alex Sinatra named Executive Director of the Players’ Association of the PHF

PHF Announces the rest of the 2022 All-Stars and opens fan voting

30 players were selected by PHF coaches and general managers to represent their teams at the All-Star Showcase. In total eight members of the Boston Pride, seven members of the Toronto Six, seven members of the Connecticut Whale, four members of the Buffalo Beauts, and two members from each of the Minnesota Whitecaps and Metropolitan Riveters were selected.

PHF fans had the opportunity to send three additional skaters and a goalie to the showcase through a fan vote, with results to be announced at a later date.

PHF names 30 more 2022 All-Stars, opens fan voting

New COVID-19 restrictions announced in Ontario

Ontario’s COVID-19 restrictions place new regulations on indoor sport activities. In accordance with these restrictions, the Toronto Six announced that they will be operating without fans or sold tickets for at least four weeks, when the restrictions are set to be lifted on Jan. 27.

Weekend games postponed

A total of four games were postponed for the weekend of January 9–10 in what marked the second time this season that COVID-19 protocols have affected the PHF’s schedule. The Boston Pride and Minnesota Whitecaps were scheduled to each play two games against the Beauts and Six respectively. The league clarified that COVID-19 protocols affecting the Boston Pride and Minnesota Whitecaps were the reason for the postponements.

PHF postpones weekend action due to COVID protocol

Beauts sweep the fan vote

The original All-Star selection saw four Beauts put forward to play in the showcase. The fan vote sent four more. The all-Beaut fan selections are forwards Cassidy Vinkle, Kennedy Ganser, and Autumn MacDougall, as well as goaltender Carly Jackson.

Beauts double their presence at the All-Star Showcase after fan vote

All-Star jerseys and logo revealed

The PHF released three bold jersey designs with elements that pay homage to the city of Toronto. Jerseys were designed by M. Style and the event’s logo was designed by the HEARTLENT group to highlight the theme of breaking boundaries.

Grading the PHF 2022 All-Star Jerseys

All-Star Showcase moved to Buffalo

The All-Star Showcase was originally set to be held in Toronto on Jan. 29 at York Canlan Ice Centre. With COVID-19 restrictions affecting the province until at least Jan. 27, the league made the decision that moving the event across the border to Buffalo would provide more clarity as planning was underway. This decision makes Buffalo the first city to host a PHF/NWHL All-Star event twice.

Commissioner Tyler Tumminia noted that the PHF All-Star Showcase will be taking place in Toronto in 2023.

Ontario’s COVID restrictions move the 2022 PHF All-Star Showcase to Buffalo

Postponed games rescheduled

The four games that were postponed at the beginning of January, as well as two games between the Pride and the Riveters that were supposed to be played in December, have been rescheduled.

The Minnesota Whitecaps will play in Toronto on the weekend of Feb. 12–13. The Boston Pride will play the Metropolitan Riveters on the weekend of March 5–6. The Boston Pride will play in Buffalo on the weekend of March 19–20.

Breaktime’s over; four teams in action this weekend

PHF action is set to resume this weekend with the following slate of games:

Jan. 15 MET vs CTW 1 p.m. ET

Jan. 15 BUF vs TOR  2 p.m. ET

Jan. 16 BUF vs TOR 2 p.m. ET

Jan. 16 MET vs CTW 6 p.m. ET

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